{"product_id":"the-grasping-hand-ilya-somin-9780226422169","title":"The Grasping Hand: Kelo V. City of New London and the Limits of Eminent Domain","description":"In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that the city of New London, Connecticut, could condemn fifteen residential properties in order to transfer them to a new private owner. Although the Fifth Amendment only permits the taking of private property for \"public use,\" the Court ruled that the transfer of condemned land to private parties for \"economic development\" is permitted by the Constitution--even if the government cannot prove that the expected development will ever actually happen. The Court's decision in \u003ci\u003eKelo v. City of New London\u003c\/i\u003e empowered the grasping hand of the state at the expense of the invisible hand of the market. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In this detailed study of one of the most controversial Supreme Court cases in modern times, Ilya Somin argues that \u003ci\u003eKelo\u003c\/i\u003e was a grave error. Economic development and \"blight\" condemnations are unconstitutional under both originalist and most \"living constitution\" theories of legal interpretation. They also victimize the poor and the politically weak for the benefit of powerful interest groups and often destroy more economic value than they create. \u003ci\u003eKelo\u003c\/i\u003e itself exemplifies these patterns. The residents targeted for condemnation lacked the influence needed to combat the formidable government and corporate interests arrayed against them. Moreover, the city's poorly conceived development plan ultimately failed: the condemned land lies empty to this day, occupied only by feral cats. The Supreme Court's unpopular ruling triggered an unprecedented political reaction, with forty-five states passing new laws intended to limit the use of eminent domain. But many of the new laws impose few or no genuine constraints on takings. The \u003ci\u003eKelo \u003c\/i\u003ebacklash led to significant progress, but not nearly as much as it may have seemed. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Despite its outcome, the closely divided 5-4 ruling shattered what many believed to be a consensus that virtually any condemnation qualifies as a public use under the Fifth Amendment. It also showed that there is widespread public opposition to eminent domain abuse. With controversy over takings sure to continue, \u003ci\u003eThe Grasping Hand\u003c\/i\u003e offers the first book-length analysis of Kelo by a legal scholar, alongside a broader history of the dispute over public use and eminent domain and an evaluation of options for reform. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Ilya Somin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 022642216X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780226422169\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Chicago Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/29\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 384\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.11lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.78d","brand":"Ilya Somin","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44054816850175,"sku":"9780226422169","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_60608624-4927-4dda-9d6b-326b7d4bf3b8.jpg?v=1685032166","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-grasping-hand-ilya-somin-9780226422169","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}